Pay and Reward

Mike Cooke
Tel: 0207 974 6005
Email: mike.cooke@camden.gov.uk
Ian Hunter
Tel: 0191 4268 348
Email: ian.g.hunter@southtynesidehomes.org.uk

Annual Report 2009

Looking back over the past year, it is striking how much has changed, yet how many other matters remain the same. Amidst the profound effects and challenges of the credit crunch and global financial ramifications, public sector pay and reward has remained as controversial as ever, Alongside significant down-sizing across a range of other sectors, the public sector has in the main sustained stable employment levels and conversely has continued a debate of pay growth rather than freezes or indeed reductions. Interesting times.

Local Government Pay Negotiations 2008-9
PPMA continues to be fully involved in the national pay negotiations for local government staff, in a year where we have experienced strikes and arbitration at a national level. PPMA have been able to advise and influence the NJC with regards the real ambitions and implications of Authorities and practitioners across the Country, a contribution which has been both meaningful and well received. Particularly in the context of the current credit crunch, the results of this years collective bargaining have been disappointing, and set a clear foundation for 2009/10 negotiations. PPMA have also been able to sustain a clear contribution to the media and national debate with regards the progress of the negotiations, and the implications of their results.

Total Reward
Little progress appears to have been made nationally across the sector on total reward, it is suggested, albeit with some individual examples of progress in areas such as flexible benefits and benefits statements. PPMA has continued to promote the importance of making progress on the agenda, including significant media and conference coverage of the agenda. It is suggested that the credit crunch will likely be a major factor in this level of progress, in that total reward is, in relative terms, a strategic and medium to long term agenda, which contrasts to the short-term and tactical focus that many organisations are currently having to concern themselves with. PPMA has to continue to look for and to develop opportunities to progress the Total reward agenda, with and for its members.

PPMA Pay and Reward Network
The PPMA network has been active throughout the year in helping develop a dialogue across the regions around pay and reward, and in providing valuable feedback in support of both national negotiations and media activity. The network met towards the end of 2008 and discussed the current state of play with regards local government and public sector reward. Actions following the meeting need to be progressed, including working further on how PPMA can seek to progress the Total Reward agenda on behalf of its members, and help practitioners balance the tension of national and local agendas.

Wider Contributions
A continued media contribution has been maintained through the year, including trade journals, national media, podcasts with the LGE, and presentations at various conferences including the CIPD reward conference.

March 2009

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